BAGOC promises Asiad grand closing

BANGKOK (JP): The Bangkok Asian Games Organizing Committee (BAGOC) promised on Friday a grandiose display during the closing ceremony of the 14-day event to be held at the Rajamangala National Stadium on Sunday.

Crown Prince Maha Vajralongkorn is expected to declare the last regional sport event of the century closed, on behalf of King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Ake Kerdtempoom, assistant secretary for the opening and closing ceremony sub-committee of BAGOC, told a media conference on Friday a package of art performances would be on show during the two hours of the ceremony which starts on 5.40 p.m. local time.

An overture featuring four top local singers -- Charan Manopet, Ekachai Srivichai, Jintara Poonlarb and Apaporn Nakornsawan -- will be played right before the arrival of the prince.

A 12-minute dance performance will be the highlight of the festival. Combining a shadow play, gigantic puppet show and Thai classical dances, the art exhibition is inspired by the Mahajanaka legend.

The old tale illustrates the second life of Buddha. It is said that Mahajanaka, or Buddha, is on his way back home when a thunder storm sinks his boat. Mahajanaka has to swim for seven days and nights to reach land.

"The performance reflects hard work carried out by the Thais before, during and after the Asian Games," Ake said.

He said participating athletes would not dress in their respective national outfits and flock in exclusive groups during the march around the 60,000-seater stadium. Instead they will mingle with each other.

This year's games saw 9,469 athletes and officials from 41 countries taking part in 36 sports with 377 gold medals on offer.

The tickets for the closure cost between Baht 1,000 and 5,000 (US$28.6 and $142.9).

Pongsakorn Laohavichian, director general of the Department of Land Transport and chairman of the Vehicle and Transport System sub-committee, called on all spectators to park their cars at the park-and-ride lot and transfer into shuttle buses, provided by the BAGOC, to reach the stadium.

He promised to provide more buses to transport an estimated 60,000 spectators from the stadium to the lot.

"In the opening ceremony we made mistakes by providing less buses than needed. Smarting from the past lesson, we will try to move spectators to the stadium in 45 minutes," he said. (yan)